Category: Care Homes

For the past year, the team at Everycare Winchester have been working hard to implement a new system that will transform the way we are able to deliver care, for our customers and their friends and family, and after much testing, we’re delighted to announce its official launch.

As the world starts to embrace digital technology in ever more diverse areas of life, overlooking the obvious benefits that new technologies can bring to the care sector would be remiss of us. At the same time, we are passionate believers in there being no substitute for real, face-to-face relationships when providing care. Taking both these points into consideration, we spent a considerable amount of time looking at how we could utilise emerging technologies to supplement and improve our existing service, without undermining the special relationships we have forged with our clients. Pass, created by Everylife Technologies, stood out as a system that will do just that.

Pass‘s ability to create tailored care plans for all our care and live-in care clients is just the start.

The system’s unique array of features will benefit our clients and their loved ones in many different ways, some of which we’ve outlined below:

Customised care plans are created digitally, enabling us to go paperless, thereby reducing the opportunities for error.

Instant medical and health updates are sent to the client and their relatives, ensuring they stay informed and have peace of mind.

Our clients and their relatives can access their tailored care plans online, empowering them to make changes if the need should arise.

Care workers are able to report back to the office real-time with feedback on tasks and activities and make amendments to suit the client’s requirements.

Book visits that fit with our clients’ schedules.

Alerts are sent immediately to management and relatives if visits are behind schedule or have been missed.

Medication is controlled online, enabling us to check that the right medication is being taken, at the right time.

Not only will our implementation of Pass enable us to improve our in-home and live-in care services, but it will also bring significant peace of mind to our clients and their family and friends who care for them.

If you would like to enquire about any of care services for you or a loved one, give us a call and speak to one of our team on 01962 842 548.

When the time comes to look into care for a loved one, you want to be sure that you’re doing it with their best interests in mind. However, if this is something you’ve never experienced before, it can be a nerve-wracking experience; especially with so many myths surrounding the elderly care sector.

It can be hard to know whether what you’re reading is reliable, which is why we’ve put together this blog, where we’ll be dispel some of these myths and giving you the facts you need to know, to give you some peace of mind.

Myth 1: Staff aren’t very well trained

Just like with any other job, there are requirements in terms of skills and training for care home and live-in staff. Your loved one’s care is paramount, and employers understand this too; it’s very unlikely that someone will be hired who isn’t qualified enough. Staff are required to undergo a range of training courses throughout the year and are also given regular opportunities to expand their training and knowledge, to make sure they’re providing the best care possible.

Myth 2: Care homes are the only option

Care homes are a popular route for many; however, there are alternatives. Live-in care for example is becoming increasingly popular and gives your loved one the ability to stay at home, while still being cared for on a 24/7 basis.

Myth 3: Care is too expensive

While care may not be free, there are certain schemes and laws which can help and protect you and your loved ones. Often you and/or your relative will be required to take a ‘means test’ which determines how financially stable you are. People who have a total capital of over £23,500 (this includes things such as savings, pensions and house valuations) are required to pay for care themselves; however, if you or your loved one has less than this you can apply for funding.

Myth 4: Care is not safe

There’s no denying that in recent years there has been quite a lot of negative press surrounding the elderly care sector; however, it’s important to remember that these cases of abuse and neglect are rare. The vast majority of care providers put your loved one’s well-being and safety at the forefront of everything they do. As always, undertake some research, looking into the providers you have shortlisted. Look out for their CQC review.

Myth 5: I won’t be able to visit my loved one as much

One of the biggest concerns people have when putting a loved one into residential care is that they won’t be able to see them often enough; however, with proper planning, this needn’t be an issue. When looking at care homes, look for ones in the local area, which are easily accessible. This way you won’t have to worry about losing quality time with your family member or friend. Live-in care removes this concern entirely. Your loved one can remain in the familiarity and comfort of their own home and live a full and enjoyable life, free to accept visitors as and when they want.

Whilst it’s certainly not an easy experience, choosing care for your loved one doesn’t have to be stressful or complicated. If you would like to have a chat to discuss your situation or would like to discover how our care services can help you and/or your loved one, give Everycare a call on 01962 842548.

Dealing with Dementia can be difficult for both the individual and their caregiver. It is important that they receive the care and support they need. Did you know:

• There are 670,000 people in the UK who are currently suffer with Dementia
• In America there are approximately 5.2 million individuals suffering with Dementia, and it is estimated that 5 million of these individuals are aged 65 or over
• There are a number of different types of support that are available for individuals who are suffering from Dementia and their caregivers.

This article looks at the support that is available for both individual sufferers and their caregivers to help individuals living with Dementia to continue living at home for as long as possible …Read On.

At present in the UK, as with much of the Western World, there is an ageing population, the knock on effect of this is a much greater level of pressure on both the Health and Social Care sector, as well as individuals family members. Currently in the UK there are over 10.5 million older people, and this number is estimated to double in the next 20 years. There are currently around 400,000 older people living in care homes, leaving a large percentage of older individuals who are living at home.

As we get older, we may begin to struggle with day to day living activities. Often older people require more help and support in and around the home and there are a number of ways in which this can be achieved.

Support Available For Elderly Individuals

The elderly often rely on family members for support but this can be great pressure on those family members and some of the elderly do not want to burden their family members with their problems, so where do they go?

There are a number of different types of support that are available for elderly individuals who choose to remain living at home, and these include: implementing a home care package, specialist equipment, and day centres.

Home Care Packages

Implementing a Home Care package can be extremely beneficial to an elderly individual who is living at home, and this is because a care worker would be able to help them with all areas of daily living. Areas that a care worker may be able to help an elderly individual with include: meal preparation, medication management, domestic duties, and all aspects of personal care.

It may be beneficial for an elderly individual to have a Home Care package because it allows them the opportunity to stay independent for longer, as they will be receiving the help and support that they need from home. This in turn means that they are able to continue doing the activities that they enjoy doing, as it can provide the individual with much more freedom in comparison to living in a Care Home.

Home Care packages also provide elderly individuals with more choice about the type of care or support available, as most Home Care organisations are able to provide individuals with a number of different services to ensure that individuals receive all of the help and support that they need, in order to remain independent for as long as possible.

Specialist Equipment

There are a number of pieces of specialist equipment, adaptations and improvements that can be implemented within an individual’s home to support them with daily living activities. Along with the traditional equipment: commodes, walking aids, hoists, stand aids and bathing aids, there are now more technology products around to assist known as assistive technology which includes Telecare.
Using specialist equipment, adaptations and improvements within the home all add to the elderly being able to stay independent for much longer than they would if they did not use these devices. The message to the elderly is not to struggle but to get advice on what there is available to improve their lives.

Specialist equipment can be used in a wide variety of situations to help to support an individual within their own home, and they can compliment other types of support such as Home Care. For example hoists can be used for moving individuals who are unable to do so themselves as part as a Home Care package.

Assistive Technology such as Telecare can be extremely beneficial for those individuals who choose to remain living independently at home. Telecare is a generic name for device that monitors in real-time that can deal with emergencies and lifestyle changes over time in order to manage the risks associated with living alone. This can be beneficial because it can give both themselves and their loved ones the peace of mind that they are being monitored, and if any problems were to occur someone would be alerted and help could be at hand in a quick and efficient manner.

Day Centres

Day Centres can provide elderly individuals who choose to remain living at home with the opportunity to obtain some additional support as well as getting the opportunity to socialise with other individuals are may be living in similar circumstances, which they may otherwise not be able to do.

Day centres provide elderly individuals with the opportunity to partake in a number of different activities and events that in turn will help them to maintain independence, whilst enjoying socialising with their peers. Day centres help an elderly individual who is living at home because partaking in a variety of activities on a regular basis may help to raise an individual’s confidence and self-esteem, which in turn will make them feel more able to partake in daily living activities independently.

Conclusion

There is a wide variety of support available for elderly individuals who choose to remain living at home. The more the elderly use the support that is available to them, the more the strain on the Health and Social Care sector is reduced, as they will be able to maintain some independence for a longer period of time. The Home Care sector will play its role in trying to educate people in what is available to keep them independent.

Having arrived at the point in your life where you feel you are not coping well on your own at home but have a fear of letting strangers into your home for home care or are worried about permanently moving into a care home, consider the question properly before making a decision.

Deciding which steps to take when choosing care options for family members, spouses or even yourself can be tough, particularly when making the big decision. Consultation with family members can help but often they know nothing about the help that is available. Below are presented some of the points to consider when making the big decision.

Advantages of Home Care

Home care can be very beneficial for individuals as it allows them to remain at home, and maintain some independence. A flexible care plan can be provided which is tailored to an individual’s needs. This allows individual’s the opportunity to continue doing things that they enjoy. For example if an individual enjoys walking, then it is possible for it to be arranged within an individual’s plan, or care workers can be used for support to allow them to continue these activities.

Hospital admission can be prevented and readmission rates reduced, this is because individuals are getting the support that they need within their homes, and injuries that result from falls can be prevented within the home as home help prevents them doing activities that may cause harm.

Infection risk can also be reduced, because an individual isn’t in an environment where ill people are present, which means that the likelihood of becoming ill themselves is reduced.

Home care also provides support for family members, as the strain of caring for a relative is reduced.

The familiar surroundings of your own home are maintained and possibly protected for family members.

Advantages of Care Homes

It provides individuals with an opportunity for social interaction, as activities are often arranged for them to participate in if they wish. This is beneficial as it prevents loneliness.

Care Homes also provide 24 hour care for individuals, which means that they are more likely to get all the relevant support they need.

Individual’s moving into Care Homes can also reduce the strain on a family, as they will no longer have to provide care for their relatives, which means that they can be there simply for support.
Depending on the type of care that a person requires it may be more beneficial for an individual to receive care within a Care Home environment because it may reduce the costs for them slightly if they require a lot of support, Home Care is usually more tailored and cheaper.

However there are a few disadvantages to both Home Care and Care Homes, and these include: A large financial impact, having to deal with an unusual situation and quality of care can sometimes be an issue. The disadvantages of Care Homes in particular can be: a fear of Care Homes, a lack of freedom and choice, and having to deal with other residents as they may not get on with them.

Both care options have advantages and disadvantages, and this can make the big decision very difficult. Home Care is a particularly popular choice for individual’s care at present, and this is largely because of the flexibility and independence that it offers. This makes Home Care generally seem more appealing to individuals, as it allows individuals to feel more comfortable and relaxed with the care that they are receiving. However the decision of which type of care an individual should receive should be made on the basis of their situation, so that they can find an option that is best suited to what they require.

With the squeeze on Government spending there is concern that the quality of care given will reduce. As the care industry is very much a people driven industry if the amount being paid for care is falling then the amount of labour cost must fall to keep care businesses viable. In the Care Home setting this can result in lower numbers of carers and in the home care setting the use of cheaper labour or trying to do more i.e. rushing the care provided.

The fear is that a two tier system will emerge with private clients paying for the care that they require and state funded clients getting a poorer standard of care. With an increasing number of people getting older then there is real pressure on the system to be able to deliver the level of care required.

Our concern as a service provider is that we will not be able to tempt new carers into the market if we cannot afford to pay a high enough rate.

We can certainly vouch for the fact that there has been limited Government support for setting up our Care Agency and certainly no specific advice in the area of Care. The local authority has offered some support.

We agree with the main findings in the report that you will find a link to below. This report was commissioned by PriceWaterHouseCoopers.

Everycare are committed to delivering a high quality of home care and will not compromise on this at all.